The Council of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) has agreed to an urgent request from the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) to prepare supplementary guidance on certification for veterinary surgeons in face of the ‘extraordinary’ circumstances that might be seen if the UK leaves the EU without a deal. The supplementary guidance would relate specifically to the veterinary export health certification of groupage consignments, ie those which contain multiple low-risk food product types in a single consignment, for export to, or transit through, the EU. Currently, Export Health Certificates (EHC) are not required for such consignments; however, in the event of a no-deal EU Exit, the UK would assume third-country status and be required to develop a scheme to enable the substantial volume of these product export/transit arrangements to continue. Such low-risk products would include products of animal origin for human consumption, eg composite products like pizzas and quiches ...

BEVA has developed a one-stop shop for horse vets to help them navigate welfare cases with confidence. Launched this month the practical Welfare Case Toolkit has been developed in conjunction with the RSPCA and includes a welfare workflow and quick download guides and welfare case forms. It can be accessed here . Being called out to a welfare case to assess immediate veterinary needs is part of an ambulatory vet’s role and they may also be required to act as a witness. “Welfare assessments can sometimes be intimidating and it’s natural to feel vulnerable, particularly when circumstances are difficult”, said Merry Smith, BEVA council member who led the project on behalf of BEVA. “Our new Welfare Case Toolkit gives you access to the information and resources, even when you are on the road, to support you in dealing with a welfare case”. The interactive Welfare Workflow provides a step-by-step guide to what happens when a vet is called upon to provide an opinion on the heal ...

I was 16 years qualified, with 8 years of full-time equine work and a further 6 years of part time and locum equine work under my belt. I was doing some intermittent weekend on call cover for a local practice to top up the bank balance. It was a sunny Saturday in a hot, dry summer and I was just enjoying the end of the ladies Wimbledon final when the phone went - would I accept a call from the RSPCA to visit multiple thin, dehydrated horses and 1 dead? Errrrmmmmmm... Do I have a choice?! I’m on call and you’ve rung me?! Checked with the second on call vet and the senior partner that the practice was OK with this and agreed, asking if IV fluids or anything in particular would be required- ‘just a nurse or another pair of hands- there’s no-one to hold them’ was the reply. I consoled myself with the thought that it was probably a field of TB types that were a bit lean in their summer coats and the concerned member of the public and RSPCA officer were just so used to seeing fat co ...

All veterinary medicines authorised for use in the UK will continue to be authorised after Brexit and can remain on the market for sale and supply in their existing packaging. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has well established mechanisms for dealing with supply issues that arise from time-to-time and works closely with the National Office of Animal Health (NOAH) and its memberships to inform robust intelligence-led warning systems to detect potential problems at the earliest point possible. In order to address supply issue concerns, the VMD has enhanced its emergency response plan to support the continued supply of veterinary medicines – whatever the cause. The plan includes several levels of response and cuts across government as necessary, depending on the severity of the issue, to form a comprehensive resolution. Veterinary medicines manufacturers and suppliers have also prepared by considering alternative logistics options, establishing appropriate stock levels and working to see tha ...

BEVA are pleased to announce this year’s award winners, honouring outstanding contributions to the equine veterinary field. We congratulate the below for their insightful and influential research.   The Sam Hignett Award is given each year at BEVA Congress for the best clinical research presentation from general equine practice. This year the award has been given to Callum Haseler for his abstract entitled “Does Intra-Articular Triamcinolone Treatment Increase the Incidence of Acute Laminitis”. Callum will receive a free ticket to AAEP 2020 taking place in Las Vegas.   This year’s Voorjaarsdagen Award is presented to Anna Johnston for her abstract “Using Time-Series Analysis to Enhance Musculoskeletal Injury Surveillance in Thoroughbred Racehorses”, as her prize she will receive free entry to Voorjaarsdagen Congress 2020 where she will have the opportunity to present this abstract once again. The Voorjaarsdagen and BEVA award marks the close relationship bet ...

The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) has reported the highest attendance in the past seven years at its annual Congress last month. With almost 1700 attendees, representing a 4% increase on 2018 in overall attendees, a buzzing exhibition hall and a waiting list for teaching sessions, the three-day equine veterinary educational extravaganza delivered beyond expectations. BEVA Congress is world renowned as the ultimate educational, knowledge sharing and networking event for the equine veterinary profession, designed by vets for vets. This year the event delivered more than 90 hours of high quality CPD lectures, workshops and practicals across six separate streams, over three days. 100+ veterinary industry leaders showcased their wares in the vibrant exhibition hall and delegates indulged in a full menu of outstanding socials. This year’s figures showed a 9% increase in vets attending and overseas delegates increased by 7% compared to last year. 74% of delegates had been qualified for more th ...